novelraw Chapter 129: Who Arrives First
Chapter 129: Who Arrives First
The long-distance bus stopped and started along village roads for over half an hour before finally hitting the provincial road.
Zheng Xu’s people hadn’t arrived yet. Qian calculated the time — as long as they got onto the provincial road, they’d be faster and there would be fewer stops.
Qian wasn’t entirely sure whether Qu Xue would chase after them.
Normal analysis would suggest that a regular person wouldn’t do such a thing.
But Qu Xue wasn’t an ordinary person. In a past life, Qian had analyzed her. Qu Xue was quite smart; she seized the chance and married Chen Lin right after his divorce and subsequent move. Most of Chen Lin’s wealth later on was likely because of Qu Xue’s manipulation behind the scenes.
If Qian’s analysis was correct, Chen Lin probably engaged in trafficking or similar dealings in that past life. Chen Lin wouldn’t have the guts, but Qu Xue dared to. Despite her low education level, this mistress had such courage. On this point alone, Qian had to admit, Qu Xue was ruthless and a formidable opponent.
Even if she climbed up using a man, later she was able to handle matters independently, having more ruthlessness than ordinary women. Qian herself had met many strong women later on, and there were indeed those like Qu Xue among them. A bad woman wanting to accomplish things is always easier than a rule-following woman; without moral constraints, they dare do anything and are skilled at utilizing women’s natural assets. Not living well is difficult.
Qian estimated that there’s a sixty percent chance Qu Xue would follow them.
Now she could only gamble on luck. Let’s see if Qu Xue could catch up.
Qian felt somewhat lucky, spotting the opportunity early and leaving early. Once the car hit the provincial road, they should be fine.
But never in a million years did she expect — humans plan, but heaven decides!
Not long after entering the provincial road, the long-distance bus’s fuel tank started emitting white smoke. The driver cursed under his breath and told the ticket seller to chase the passengers off.
"This cursed bus, broken again. Get off, wait for the next one to take you back!"
The crowd grumbled in complaints.
In such a small place, there are only two trips to the city a day. If the bus breaks down now, who knows how many hours before the next one arrives.
"It’s so irritating! Getting off now means waiting half a day at least. Even if another bus comes, there won’t be any seats. Refund, refund!"
As the crowd clamored, Qian helped her grandmother off the bus, feeling utterly frustrated.
How unlucky can one be? These long-distance buses rarely break down, and yet she encountered one.
A bunch of people waited for the next bus, probably one or two hours at least.
Qian still held some hope; if she encountered a returning taxi dropping people off in the countryside, she’d flag it down.
She only wanted to leave this troublesome place quickly.
But unfortunately, not even a returning car was visible, let alone private cars.
They waited several minutes, only to see a crowded Xiali pass by, impossible to stop even with money.
In the distance, there came a white minivan, wobbling its way over. Qian hurried to wave, but retracted her hand.
Sitting in the passenger seat of the minivan was Qu Xue...
"Qian’er, what’s wrong?" Her grandmother kept noticing her granddaughter’s worsening expression, asking worriedly, "Is your stomach still hurting?"
Qian’s problem wasn’t stomach ache now; it was a pain in the ass.
If she had such a thing...
Looking at her grandmother, Qian couldn’t help but scheme.
If only she had Yu Minglang’s skills right now, she could karate chop her grandmother unconscious and take on Qu Xue and her gang.
But the problem was, given her lack of finesse, if she didn’t knock her grandmother out and instead triggered a heart attack, what then?
Watching Qu Xue’s beat-up van getting closer, Qian was running out of ideas.
What now?
This place is remote, she was with an elderly lady; where could she hide?
If her grandmother heard her fighting with Qu Xue, could the box of instant heart pills she had work?
So annoying, Yu Minglang was unreachable, Zheng Xu’s relief hadn’t arrived. Was this dragon going to be trapped on the shoals, disgusted to death by Qu Xue?! This could be the most revolting death of the year.
If only a private car had come earlier, but now it’s too late. Qu Xue must have seen her. Even if a car came and she got on, Qu Xue would still chase.
Unless it was a big jeep like Yu Minglang’s, speeding on mountains, the van would be smashed to pieces if it dared chase. Wait, what did she see?
The car coming from the other direction looked so... much like Yu Minglang’s?
Qian rubbed her eyes. That license plate — indeed, it’s Yu Minglang’s!
It felt like winning the jackpot!
Qian kept waving at him and shouted with all her might.
Yu Minglang saw her, braked and parked the car on the roadside mud path, ensuring road safety wasn’t affected. He looked around, crossed the road directly, and walked to Qian’s side.
Seeing Yu Minglang, Qian’s heart was about to boil over.
Yu Minglang arrived just in time!
Him showing up now would increase his likability in Qian’s eyes significantly.
"Why are you here?" Qian was too excited, forgetting her grandmother was still by her side, gripping his hand joyfully.
Yu Minglang had never been treated so warmly by Qian and thoroughly enjoyed it. Her gaze was so eager; if someone gave Yu Minglang a crowbar, he could pry the earth. It was beautiful, absolutely so.
"Went to your house; your mom said you went to the countryside. I saw the weather forecast said it might rain tonight, worried the long-distance bus wouldn’t run, so came to pick you up."
Originally, Yu Minglang hadn’t taken any leave, but he managed to get two days off, planning to invite his girl for some autumn leaves watching and mountain hiking. But he missed out.
He squeezed out this time, was idle now that it was sorted out, and didn’t want to waste it. After not seeing her for so long, he really missed her; so he simply came over to see if he could pick her up.
The timing was so perfect that Qian couldn’t stop laughing inside.
"I’ll take my grandmother to your car, help me keep an eye on those people behind us making their way across the road."
No time for explanations, Qian tugged her grandmother along to Yu Minglang’s car, locked her inside, and turned on the car audio.
Turning on the audio, Qian’s lips twitched.
Wasn’t this the high-tempo song she sang?
This shouldn’t be played for an old lady; it might cause a heart attack.
"Grandma, wait here, don’t get out." She changed to a soothing tune, and from the corner of her eye, saw Qu Xue’s car parking, people disembarking and someone trying to come over, blocked by Yu Minglang.
Yu Minglang didn’t exactly understand what happened, but he knew, whatever Qian asked him to do, he’d execute it unconditionally.
"What’s going on here?" Grandma asked, puzzled.
"Nothing, the man down there is my boyfriend; those people behind, they are—"
Qian was about to brush it off, but noticed the situation changed outside. She stopped talking, watching as someone from Qu Xue’s side suddenly threw a punch towards Yu Minglang’s face!